ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The No. 24 nationally ranked Oneonta men's soccer team came out on top in their non-conference match against RPI, 3-2, Saturday afternoon on Red Dragon Field. Senior Joe Holder (Greenwood Lake, N.Y./Warwick) scored a brace in the first half for an early lead then RPI tied the match before senior Sam Rogers (Broadalbin, N.Y./Broadalbin-Perth) netted the game-winning goal in the 52nd minute. The Red Dragons' record improved to 5-1-1 overall while the Engineers dropped to 0-2.
 
"We showed good spirit to come back in the second half and get the winner after throwing away a two-goal advantage in the first," said head coach Iain Byrne. "Rensselaer is always a tough game and today was no different."

Both of Holder's goals were scored in the ninth minute of play to give Oneonta the early 2-nil lead. At 8:06, junior Zach Tanner (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Saint Anthony's) connected with Holder inside the box for the first score, then 50 seconds later, at 8:56, senior Luigi Prosperi (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook) found Holder again in front of the net for his second goal of the season.

RPI answered with a pair of goals from Thomas Corcoran and Sam Shmukler in the 26th and 36th minute, respectively, to tie the match entering halftime.

In the 52nd minute, the Red Dragons regained the lead off the right foot of Rogers. The Engineers sent a free kick out to midfield where a couple of players from both sides fought for the ball and senior Zach Rabadi (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) came away with possession of the ball. Rabadi passed it down the field to Rogers, who got possession of the ball, sprinted past a defender, then fired a shot from the top left of the box and through the RPI goalie's gloves for the score.

With under two minutes to play, the Engineers had an indirect free kick inside the box after junior James Cintron (Poughkeepsie, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) picked up the ball on a pass back. Shmuckler received the indirect kick for RPI and took a shot at the crowded net for the equalizer, but Cintron was the first to step out towards the ball and kick saved it out of harm's way.

Cintron finished with a save for Oneonta, while Noah Churchill totaled five saves for RPI.

The Red Dragons outshot the Engineers 15-7 in total shots, 8-2 on target, and they held an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks.
  The Red Dragons welcomed and hosted Oneonta Soccer Club for today's match. The youth soccer organization had several athletes walk out with Oneonta and RPI for the lineups and national anthem, then they competed in a friendly exhibition during halftime. 

Oneonta is on the road for their next match on Wednesday, September 24, at Hamilton for a non-conference battle starting at 4:30 pm. Read Full Article